Anti-theft device for motor vehicle equipment

ABSTRACT

An arrangement for theft protection of a motor vehicle accessory, in particular of a car radio, having a codable theft protection device. An enclosing device that can be activated or deactivated via an immobilizer of a control system of a drive mechanism of a motor vehicle is provided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an arrangement for theft protection ofa motor vehicle accessory, in particular of a car radio, having acodable theft protection device.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

In the context of motor vehicles, numerous methods are known forprotecting car radios from theft. For example, the car radios canpossess removable control panels that can be taken along when leavingthe motor vehicle. Also known are coding capabilities such that anelectronic coding of the car radio must be performed when it is presentin the motor vehicle. The car radio can be put back into service onlyafter recoding, and for that purpose the corresponding code must beknown. Also known are covering devices with which the car radio can beshielded from view.

So-called drive locks, in which important electronic subassemblies ofthe internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle can be disabled viaan immobilizer, are known for the protection of motor vehicles. Themotor vehicle cannot be started until the immobilizer has beendeactivated. Activation or deactivation of the immobilizer is performed,for example, via an ignition key of the motor vehicle that contains acoded transponder, so that the immobilizer can be deactivated only viathat transponder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The arrangement according to the present invention for theft protectionof a motor vehicle accessory, offers the advantage of providing, insimple fashion, comprehensive theft protection for the motor vehicleaccessory. By the fact that an enclosing device of the arrangement fortheft protection can be activated or deactivated via an immobilizer of acontrol system of a drive mechanism of a motor vehicle, it is possibleto implement automatic theft protection that acts independently ofmanual interventions of a vehicle driver. Thus on the one hand, improperoperations impairing the effectiveness of a theft protection system areruled out, and on the other hand it is no longer necessary to retain, insecure fashion, a code for theft protection of the motor vehicleaccessory.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, provision is madefor the enclosing device to be a housing, receiving the motor vehicleaccessory, that has at least one closure device that can be actuated viathe immobilizer, the closure device preferably being actuable via anelectric motor that can be activated by way of the immobilizer. Theadvantageous result of this is that deactivation of the immobilizer, forexample by inserting an ignition key into an ignition lock of the motorvehicle, automatically deactivates the enclosing device by the fact thatthe closure device automatically opens and the motor vehicle accessory,in particular control elements of a car radio, becomes accessible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The FIGURE shows the arrangement for theft protection of a motor vehicleaccessory.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The FIGURE shows, in a schematic side view, an arrangement 10 for theftprotection of a car radio 12. The present invention is, of course, notlimited to theft protection for a car radio 12, but can also be used forany other desired motor vehicle accessory for which theft protection isto be provided. These include, for example, high-value navigationdevices, radio sets, audio systems in general, for example with cassetteor CD player, etc.

Arrangement 10 comprises a housing 14 that is recessed into a dashboard16 of a motor vehicle. Housing 14 is immovably joined to body parts ofthe motor vehicle, so that it cannot be taken out of dashboard 16.Optionally, housing 14 can comprise only individual struts thatconstitute an installation space for car radio 12. In this case housing14 is not configured as a closed housing 14. Housing 14 can be enclosedby way of a closure device 18 that, in the example shown, is configuredas front panel 20. Front panel 20 is recessed flush into dashboard 16.Housing 14 with closure device 18 thus forms an enclosing device 22 forcar radio 12. Car radio 12 is advantageously arranged in housing 14 insuch a way that when front panel 20 is open, control elements 24 of carradio 12 are accessible.

Associated with front panel 20 is an electric motor 26 that constitutesan actuation device 28 for front panel 20. For this purpose, actuationdevice 28 can be coupled in suitable fashion to a drive shaft ofelectric motor 26. A connection between actuation device 28 and electricmotor 26 can be accomplished via a linkage. Front panel 20 can be closedand opened via electric motor 26, for which purpose front panel 20pivots, for example, in a space configured inside dashboard 16. In afurther exemplary embodiment it is also possible for front panel 20 tobe displaced laterally.

Electric motor 26 is activated via a control unit 30 that can be actedupon by a control signal 32 of an immobilizer 34. Immobilizer 34 is aconstituent of a control device (not depicted) of the motor vehicle andcan be activated or deactivated, for example, via an ignition key of themotor vehicle.

Arrangement 10 functions as follows:

To enable the motor vehicle to be started, immobilizer 34 must bedeactivated. This is done, for example, by introducing an ignition keyinto the ignition lock, whereby a transponder of the ignition keycommunicates with a corresponding control circuit of immobilizer 34.

Deactivation of immobilizer 34 causes activation, via the control deviceof the motor vehicle, of an internal combustion engine of the motorvehicle so that it can be started. At the same time, control unit 30 isinformed via control signal 32 that immobilizer 34 has been deactivated.

Control unit 30 thereupon activates electric motor 26 so that frontpanel 20 is opened via actuation device 28, and car radio 12 isaccessible.

When the vehicle is shut off, immobilizer 34 is activated by, forexample, pulling the ignition key out of the ignition lock of the motorvehicle, so that control circuits of the internal combustion engine areinhibited (electronic drive lock). At the same time, control unit 30 isacted upon by a control signal 32 which signals that immobilizer 34 hasbeen activated. Electric motor 26 is thereupon activated by control unit30, and front panel 20 is closed via actuation device 28. Car radio 12is thus securely arranged in housing 14 that is enclosed by front panel20. Further control signals can be used to ensure that car radio 12 issimultaneously switched off as front panel 20 is closed.

The overall result is to make possible secure storage of car radio 12 inthe motor vehicle. Because front panel 20 opens and closesautomatically, there is no need for a motor vehicle driver to influencethis operation. Deactivation of immobilizer 34 simultaneously makes carradio 12 accessible, while activation of immobilizer 34 secures carradio 12. Theft protection for car radio 12 is now guaranteed simply bythe stability of housing 14, in particular of front panel 20. When frontpanel 20, which ideally fits flush with dashboard 16, is closed, carradio 12 is optimally shielded from view and protected from theft.

What is claimed is:
 1. An arrangement for providing theft protection fora motor vehicle accessory having a codable theft protection device,comprising: an enclosing device, the enclosing device being at least oneof activated and deactivated via an immobilizer of a control system of adrive mechanism of the motor vehicle, wherein the immobilizer is part ofa drive lock system.
 2. The arrangement according to claim 1, whereinthe enclosing device includes a housing to receive the motor vehicleaccessory, and at least one closure device actuable via the immobilizer.3. The arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the closure device isautomatically actuable.
 4. The arrangement according to claim 2, whereinthe closure device is actuable via an electric motor, the electric motorbeing activatable via the immobilizer.
 5. The arrangement according toclaim 4, wherein the closure device includes a front panel of thehousing, the housing being immovably recessed into a dashboard of themotor vehicle.
 6. The arrangement according to claim 5, wherein thefront panel is articulated retractably into the housing.
 7. Thearrangement according to claim 5, wherein the front panel is articulatedretractably into the dashboard of the motor vehicle.
 8. The arrangementaccording to claim 5, wherein the motor vehicle accessory includes a carradio.
 9. The arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the motorvehicle accessory includes a navigation device.
 10. The arrangementaccording to claim 5, wherein the motor vehicle accessory includes anaudio system.
 11. The arrangement according to claim 10, wherein themotor vehicle accessory includes a cassette system.
 12. The arrangementaccording to claim 10, wherein the motor vehicle accessory includes a CDsystem.
 13. The arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the closuredevice includes a front panel of the housing, the housing beingimmovably recessed into a dashboard of the motor vehicle.
 14. Thearrangement according to claim 13, wherein the front panel isarticulated retractably into the housing.
 15. The arrangement accordingto claim 13, wherein the front panel is articulated retractably into thedashboard of the motor vehicle.
 16. The arrangement according to claim1, wherein a transponder of an ignition key communicates with a controlcircuit of the immobilizer to at least one of activate and deactivatethe immobilizer.